The Arizona sentinel., 1887-05-21
A STUDY OF SEED.
The Numerous Advantages of Change and
 of Judiclous Selection.

of JudiciOus Selection.
 Although but little has been written on this subject it is matter worthy the most careful consideration of all who have any thing to do with seeds. That great benefits are derived in some eases from changing seed, not only from one climate to another, but even to different soils, can not be doubted. Seeds often become soil-sick and climate-sick, like people, need change and are affected beneficially when that change is made. It is generally con- sidered that all fruits, vegetables and seeds do best when grown in their own native soil Is this trueP Is it fact applicable to all seeds and plants? Take cotton, for instance. Cotton seed was brought to Texas from Yucatan | where it was found to be indigenous. Being planted and cultivated in Texas it produced better staple and more or it than in Yucatan. Seed was i'm ported from Africa, British India and the islands of the Mediterranean into the Southern States with the same result, showing that cotton, although trop- ical plant, does better in temperate re- gions. It is noted fact that the fur ther North wheat can be grown the shorter it's period of maturity. Seed taken from Canada to Kentucky, Ohio or Colorado, ripens earlier than the wheat raised in these States. But the seed the second year loses this quality to a great extent and follows in the same line of the wheats of these States. In Sweden advantage is taken of this in annually bringing seed wheat from the northern extremity of the Gulf of Bothnia, nearly under the Arctic circle, and sowing it in land so much exposed to cold that ordinary wheat has scarcely time to ripen.
 Wheats from the Mediterranean their own native habitat-when brought to this climate improve so greatly in color, yield and quality that they, when compared, can not be recognized as the same. Of the 1S5 different varieties of wheat, 21 of oats, 15 of barley and 8 of rye received at the Colorado Agricultural College from foreign countries the last seven years, not one but has made better grain than that received. Changing seed has long been practiced by a few farmers in the different States and oft en with excellent results-but the change must be frequently repeated.
 Some seeds run out in ashort time and
 become worthless because the soil and climate do not agree with them and often from want of judicious selection. This is the fact with field crops to greater degree than garden vegetables. For instance, onion seeds coming from Africa and ! --ro7vrr ;rr-tl,e-Ess4aIn- Statns do EUnll for one or two seasons and then be- come worthless. Potatoes taken from
 a cold climate to the Southern States grow well the first year, but fail to make plump tubers and good crop after that. Oats coming from Canada, Scotland and Ireland make larger yield in some of the Western States than where they came from for one or two seasons, and after that lapse into the same condition of production and quality as other oats. One reason for this is that when they are grown out of their own range (every plant has its native region) they soon deteriorate and require to be renewed from seed grown in tn at native region.
 Another reason for changing seed from one locality to another is that the
 accidents and insects that prey upon them prefer some varieties to others,
 and the accidents and insects are more
 abundant in those localities where the
 varieties upon which they prey are
 most cultivated. While a change oi
 seed is beneficial, selection, very i'm
 portant and closely connected with it,
 should claim as much if not more at tention from the farming community.
 Much is being done by a few to make
 our best seeds better. Selecting the
 best, crossing like species, hybridizing, fertilizing, cultivating, irrigating and transpl anting are all resorted to to ac complish the work so necessary and important to making the base of all oc' equations successful. Selection pro notes vitality, insures germinatiOn, ad
 vances growth, defines the character ot plants, increases the yield and furnishe: better grain for reproduction. Plants can be improved easily as stock. Every . favor bestowed upon the cereals, il part cular, shows corresponding sat s isfaction in yield and quality. By 1 iudicious system of selection the perioC
 of maturity of corn, wheat, oats, bar i ley, rye and other seeds can be greatly e shortened. This is done by taking fo 0 seed the ears or heads that matur = earliest. By selection larger heads
 more perfect grain and a greate amount of it can be grown on givel = space with the same fertility and at tn l same expense. The stover by the sam l. means can be reduced and the grail e increased. Seed must be selected ever. e year. The ''seed-patch," like the yeas e pot, must be kept full and fresh t
 propagate the best, not only to make IS better, but to keep up the standard C e those that have reached the limit ( y improvement, if such there be.-Pr0J d E. B. BLoup1t, in N r Tribune.